The Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) Foundation is providing vital new tools to those who keep communities safe. The WPS Foundation is awarding $75,000 to help local first responders purchase lifesaving equipment and strengthen public safety as part of its Rewarding Responders Grant program.
“We are honored to continue our support of public safety agencies and the invaluable impact they make in our communities every day,” said Beth Straka, president — WPS Foundation. “The important tools we help provide our first responders — from vital medical devices to heavy-duty equipment — can be critical in keeping people and our communities safe.”
Including this year’s grants, the WPS Foundation has now donated more than $675,000 to help police, fire and emergency medical services agencies improve public safety across north-central and northeast Wisconsin.
Supporting safety and service to communities
WPS focuses on safety for its employees, customers and communities every day. The WPS Foundation’s Rewarding Responders Grant program supports the agencies that also are committed to keeping everyone safe. The grants help local first responders purchase lifesaving equipment or training that allows their members to improve public safety.
This year’s grant recipients include the Suamico Fire Department and Life Link III, the air medical transport agency in Wisconsin’s Northwoods region. The Suamico Fire Department used its grant to purchase a new water rescue basket, while Life Link III used its grant to acquire a new infusion pump for its medical aircraft.
“Our mission includes a commitment to our community, and this grant gives us a tool to strengthen that commitment,” said Joe Bertler, fire chief — Suamico Fire Department. “This water rescue basket will be used frequently in training for water rescues on the Bay of Green Bay. Building up our department’s knowledge and skill sets through training is vital for efficient water rescue operations when emergencies happen.”
“We are honored to receive this generous grant from the WPS Foundation, and deeply appreciate their commitment to supporting emergency response organizations,” said Josh Howell, CEO — Life Link III. “The funding will allow us to acquire a new Sapphire pump, which plays a vital role in ensuring safe and accurate medication delivery to critically ill patients during air medical transport. This investment directly enhances our ability to provide high-quality care to the communities we serve, including those in and around Rhinelander.”
Grant recipients
The 2025 grant recipients include:
- Arbor Vitae Fire and Rescue Department — Confined space rescue tripod
- Brown County Sheriff’s Office — Water rescue tools and equipment
- Calumet County Emergency Management — Safety vests
- City of Brillion Police Department — Automated external defibrillator (AED)
- City of Two Rivers Fire Department — Water rescue wetsuits
- Community Ambulance Service Inc. — Emergency patient care equipment
- Crandon Police Department — Battery-powered rescue saw
- Edgar Volunteer Fire Department — Emergency alert pagers
- Egg Harbor Fire Department — Emergency scene safety lighting and equipment
- Forest County Sheriff’s Department — Rescue saws
- Friends of Townsend Fire — Gas detector
- Gibraltar Police Department — Aerial drone equipment
- Kewaunee Fire Department Auxiliary — Gas detectors
- Kiel Fire Department — Gas detector
- Lakewood Volunteer Fire Department — Helmet-mounted flashlights
- Laona Fire Department Auxiliary — Scene safety and thermal imaging tools
- Life Link III — Medical infusion pump
- Little Suamico Fire Department — Helmet-mounted flashlights
- Marinette County Sheriff’s Office — Aerial drone
- Menominee County Fire Chiefs Association — Search and rescue training
- Newbold Fire Department — Portable carbon monoxide detectors
- Northwoods Emergency Medical Services District — Child safety transport system
- Pine Lake Fire Department — Thermal imaging cameras
- Potter Volunteer Fire Department — Wearable safety lights
- Pound Fire Department — Emergency scene safety lighting
- Reedsville Police Department — AED
- Riverside Fire District — Water rescue life jackets
- Riverview Fire Department — Helmet-mounted flashlights
- Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Department — Dewatering pump
- Silver Creek Fire Department — Battery-powered entry and rescue tools
- South Area Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) District — Carbon monoxide detectors
- Stella Piehl Volunteer Fire Department — Thermal imaging cameras
- Suamico Fire Department — Water rescue basket
- Town of Brazeau Fire Department — Thermal imaging camera
- Town of Norwood Fire Department — Emergency communication radios
- Town of Peshtigo Fire Department — Protective firefighting hoods
- Town of Sheboygan Falls Fire Department — Gas detectors
- Town of Sheboygan Fire Department — Water rescue helmets
- Two Creeks Fire Department — Protective firefighting hoods
- White Lake Fire Department — Gas detector
- Wisconsin K9 Search Specialists Inc. — K-9 testing and certification program
- Wittenberg Area Protective Services District — Personal protective equipment for emergency medical technicians
The WPS Foundation offers its Rewarding Responders Grant each year to emergency response agencies that operate in the WPS service area. Eligible agencies can apply for up to $2,000 in funding through the grant. Since the program began, the WPS Foundation has helped 225 individual agencies through the grant.